Auckland, New Zealand
November 4, 2016
Agria Corporation ("Agria" or "the Company"), today announced that it received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), on November 3, 2016 (the "Letter"), informing the Company that the NYSE has determined to commence proceedings to delist the American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") of Agria from the NYSE. Trading of the Company's ADSs was suspended on November 3, 2016.
Prior to the notice of commencement of proceedings to delist the Company's ADSs, the Company received a request for information from the NYSE on July 13, 2016 in connection with a review of the Company's compliance with the NYSE's minimum price requirements and trading activity. The Company has been, and will continue to, work with the NYSE in responding to its request for information.
According to NYSE, the determination to delist the Company was based on an investigation conducted by NYSE Regulation, which uncovered evidence demonstrating that the Company and its management engaged in operations contrary to the public interest and not in keeping with sound public policy pursuant to Section 802.01D of the Listed Company Manual. NYSE stated that it identified evidence indicating that the Company (i) through a top executive and other intermediaries engaged in trading intended to artificially inflate Agria's stock price, including to improperly avoid having the Company delisted for failing to comply with NYSE's continued listing standards requiring companies to maintain an average stock price of at least $1.000 per share over a consecutive thirty-day trading period; and (ii) provided incomplete, misleading, or false information in connection with investigations related to these issues.
The Company is in the process of obtaining additional information about the circumstances of the NYSE allegations and considering additional options, including filing an appeal to the Committee of the Board of Directors of the NYSE challenging the commencement of delisting proceedings.
In addition, on December 23, 2015, the Company received a subpoena from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with a non-public investigation. The SEC's subpoena is focused on, among other things, Agria's historic and ongoing business operations in China. The subpoena advised that the existence of the investigation should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its Staff that the Company or any of its officers or directors had violated any of the federal securities laws. The company is cooperating with the SEC's investigation.
About Agria Corporation
Agria (NYSE: GRO) is a global agricultural company with three principal business segments: Seed and Grain; Crop Protection, Nutrients and Merchandise; and Rural Services. The Seed and Grain segment is engaged in research and development, production and sale of a broad range of seed products and trading of seed and grain products globally. The Crop Protection, Nutrients and Merchandise segment operates an extensive chain of retail stores that supply farm input materials. The Rural Services segment provides livestock trading, wool trading, irrigation and pumping, real estate agency and other agriservices. For more information about Agria Corporation, please visit www.agriacorp.com.
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